West European Hedgehog Welfare and Garden Conservation

The hedgehog is one of Britain most beloved garden mammals yet has declined by over 50% since 2000, with its welfare threatened by road mortality, garden hazards, pesticide-driven invertebrate decline, and habitat fragmentation.

Key Facts

UK hedgehog numbers declined from an estimated 36 million in the 1950s to under 1 million today
Road mortality kills an estimated 100,000 hedgehogs annually in the UK
Hedgehogs travel up to 2km per night, crossing roads and gardens in search of food and mates
Garden pesticide use reducing slug, beetle, and earthworm populations eliminates hedgehog food supplies
Bonfires, pond margins, and garden netting are specific welfare hazards for hedgehogs

Welfare Considerations

Hedgehog welfare in garden settings is threatened by a combination of physical hazards and declining food availability. Solid garden boundary fencing prevents the movement hedgehogs require across several gardens to find sufficient food each night. Pesticide use reducing invertebrate communities means hedgehogs must range further with lower foraging success. Bonfire casualties are a significant welfare concern, and hedgehog-sized holes in garden fences are a simple intervention with immediate population benefit.

What You Can Do

Create a 13cm by 13cm hole in garden fences and walls to allow hedgehog movement between gardens
Check bonfires carefully for hedgehogs before lighting, and build them immediately before use
Never use slug pellets containing metaldehyde or ferric phosphate as primary pest control
Provide supplemental feeding with specialist hedgehog food, meat-based cat food, or dry cat biscuits
Register your garden as hedgehog-friendly through the Hedgehog Street program